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COMMUNITY OWNED PRESCHOOLS

(Case Study in karnataka)Dr Usha Abrol

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COCs - a model wherein parents plan,manage & organize the centers

2006

119 community based centers

• 26 converted toICDS Awcs

• Some centers were merged

Present- 61

Genesis 1994

Under process:• About 23 proposed for

conversion• Rest to go independent

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An intensive study of two of the COCs provides some useful tips on benefits of &modalities for actively involving the community in the preschool centers

While the concept has found place in Government programmes like School management committees in schools &Bal vikas samitis in anganwadis in reality their impact is very limited.Community Owned Pre- school Centers has emerged as a widely acclaimed model in the country.

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THE PHILOSOPHY

The model of COCs of Prajayatna is based on following beliefs; The community support cannot be summoned in a programmatic manner without true community involvement &ownership in the real sense Every community can be facilitated to articulate its child care needs by building the capacities of the communities.

The institutional structures to provide an opportunity for active community participation ,need to be built &nurtured

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community involvement processesProcess Outcome

1.Collection of secondary data Identification of villages which completely lack ECCE facilities

2.preliminary meeting with parents, Aww, teaches, local elected members &village elders

• Development of a shared vision of need &resources for ECCE

• Identify a volunteer to collect primary data by house to house survey• Cross validation of secondary data

3.Village level meeting with all stakeholders

MAKKALA ARAIKE MATHU SHIKSHAN SABHA

PROVIDED A CONTEXT FOR THE DISCUSSION

• Development of a shared vision• Joint decision to start a pre school• Discussion on personnel, material

&resources• Feeling of ownership of resources• First step towards community ownership

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PROCESSES FOR PARENTS’INVOLVEMENT

Parents ’Expectations meetings(Annual)

Budget Planning (Annual )

Monthly Meetings

Pre-school Committee

Supplementary Nutrition

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1. PARENTS’ EXPECTTIONS MEET Beginning of every year a parent’s expectation meeting is held to map the parent’s expectations from the pre school center.

It is intended to build a framework determining the contents of classroom sessions in keeping with what the parents want their children to learn. An analysis of parents expectations from the preschool matches with the academic guidelines for the goals of a preschool.

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Parents’expectations Academic goals of pre school

Reading ,writing & numeracy skills-Urdu, Kannada & English& concepts

Cognitive development

Follow instructions &express themselves

Comprehensive &expressive language

Ability to do things themselves, eating , toilet etc

Autonomy

Take care of their belongings

Play and enjoy Motor development

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2. BUDGET PLAN & MEETING In the beginning of the academic year a planning meetingof the parents is held to decide on modalities for running the center.

The exercise is facilitated by coordinators in which together all the parents discuss & decide;

-resources required for running the center: fee structure, teacher’s salary -amount to be spent on teaching –learning material, -infrastructure development like repair , painting etc -external support required.

 

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3. MONTHLY MEETINGS

Monthly meetings with parents are held to share their children’s learning &decide on day today problems of the center e.g. late coming of children, non/late payment of fee , repair of the building etc.

Preschool Committee comprising a smaller group of parents visit the center twice a week by rotation. Close Monitoring & Involvement of parents in day today activities fostered the feeling of ownership &assured a high level of transperancy .Parents’ have been assigned the responsibility of looking at the cleanliness, attendance, timings of the center.

The pre- school committee also went to purchase stationary &related items for the Center with the teachers

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Involvement in assessment of children.Twice a year each child is assessed in the presence of the parents &learning shared with them

Supplementary Nutrition by Mothers- By rotation mothers cook &bring nutritious snacks for all the children. The raw material is given by Prajayatna , cooking is done in the individual houses &food is sent to the center.

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BENEFITS

The local community . comes forward to mobilize financial & other resources whenever a need arises.Transparency &regularity of services, accountability to the community high level of parent satisfaction

PRE REQUISITE

Support of an external agency in organizing community meetings &budget planning meetings, Capacity building of teachers, academic aspects like curriculum planning . The team of Prajayatna played a critical role

   

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THANK YOU